Wound therapy device and related methods

Abstract

A wound closure apparatus to promote tissue healing at a wound is provided and includes a porous pad positioned at the wound and a suction pump in fluid communication with the porous pad to provide a negative pressure to the porous pad. The suction pump is disposed within a housing. A canister is fluidly connected between the porous pad and the suction pump to collect fluids drawn from the wound by the suction pump, and the canister is removably received by a recess in the housing. A wound cover is positioned over the porous pad to secure the porous pad at the wound, and a switch provides a signal indicating that the canister properly resides within the recess when the switch is pressed.

1. A wound closure apparatus to promote tissue healing at a wound, the apparatus comprising:
 a porous pad adapted to be positioned at the wound; 
 a suction pump in fluid communication with the porous pad to provide a negative pressure to the porous pad, the suction pump being disposed within a housing; 
 a canister fluidly connected between the porous pad and the suction pump to collect fluids drawn from the wound by the suction pump, the canister being removably received by a recess in the housing; 
 a wound cover positioned over the porous pad to secure the porous pad at the wound; and 
 a switch providing a signal indicating that the canister properly resides within the recess when the switch is pressed. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein fluid communication is provided between the porous pad and the canister by a tube. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the tube is fitted as an interference fit into an interior portion of the porous pad. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the porous pad comprises a polymer foam having interconnecting cells. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the porous pad is a polyurethane reticulated foam. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the porous pad comprises a reticulated foam having at least 90% interconnecting cells. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the porous pad comprises a reticulated foam having at least 95% interconnecting cells. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a delay circuit adapted to silence an alarm associated with an improper operating condition. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wound cover includes an adhesive in a peripheral area of the wound cover. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the peripheral area with the adhesive extends beyond a periphery of the porous pad for adhering to intact skin around the wound. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a latch securing the canister in the recess in the housing. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the canister includes a transparent window. 
     
     
       13. A wound closure apparatus to promote tissue healing at a wound, the apparatus comprising:
 a porous pad adapted to be positioned at the wound; 
 a suction pump in fluid communication with the porous pad to provide a negative pressure to the porous pad; 
 a canister fluidly connected between the porous pad and the suction pump to collect fluids drawn from the wound by the suction pump; 
 a wound cover positioned over the porous pad to secure the porous pad at the wound; and 
 a bleed valve to vent negative pressure between the suction pump and the canister when the suction pump is deactivated. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the bleed valve permits release of negative pressure during intermittent operation of the suction pump. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein bleed valve prevents overpressurization of negative pressure during operation of the suction pump. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the bleed valve comprises an orifice. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the orifice is 0.5 mm in diameter. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the suction pump is disposed within a housing; and 
 the bleed valve is disposed outside of the housing to facilitate un-clogging of blockages. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a tube to fluidly connect the canister and the suction pump; and 
 a tank fluidly connected to the tube to act as a damper to pressure changes in the tube. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a transducer fluidly connected to the tube to measure a pressure in the tube. 
 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein fluid communication is provided between the porous pad and the canister by a tube. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the tube is fitted as an interference fit into an interior portion of the porous pad. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the porous pad comprises a polymer foam having interconnecting cells. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the porous pad is a polyurethane reticulated foam. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the porous pad comprises a reticulated foam having at least 90% interconnecting cells. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the porous pad comprises a reticulated foam having at least 95% interconnecting cells. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a delay circuit adapted to silence an alarm associated with an improper operating condition. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the wound cover includes an adhesive in a peripheral area of the wound cover. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the peripheral area with the adhesive extends beyond a periphery of the porous pad for adhering to intact skin around the wound. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the canister includes a transparent window. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a sensor for detecting when the canister is substantially full with fluid, the sensor being associated with the suction pump to discontinue application of the negative pressure when a substantially full condition of the canister is detected. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the sensor comprises a capacitance sensor, the sensor being arranged to sense a change of capacitance as the canister fills with fluid. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a tilt sensor associated with the suction pump to discontinue application of negative pressure when tilting of the canister greater than a predetermined angle is detected. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 45°. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a sensor for detecting a variance greater than a predetermined angle of an axis of the canister.